Conductor coding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for coding electrical conductors with colored ink or the like as the conductor is drawn past a coding station at rates of 300-600 feet per minute. One or more split ink applicators embrace the conductor from its opposite sides and support wicking supplied with ink from reservoir means. The wick holders are readily shiftable from a first ink-applying position to a second non-operating position wherein the conductor receives no ink from the wicking. Conductor guides disposed to either end of the ink application station hold the conductor accurately aligned with the applicators and a wiper may be utilized to remove excess ink.

' United States" Patent [1 1 Palcic Nov. 11, 1975 CONDUCTOR CODING APPARATUS 2.9 X ()43 (-./l)ol Sassenherg l lN/2o.\' X '4 t. f 2 z 1 2 1' [75] Inventor: Kenneth D. Palcic, Escondido. Calif. 7% H196 Mh l W 64 I A gnc FOImUIabS Industrial I Primary limminm'.lohn P. McIntosh Incorporatedq ESCOYldldO. C Armrnev. Agent. 0" Firm-Sellers and, Brace [22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1974 [211 App]. No.: 439,925 [571 ABSTRACT Apparatus for coding electrical conductors with col- 7 7 ored 1nk or the l1ke as the conductor 15 drawn past a 118/123 figgffit I codlng station at rates of 300-600 feet per mmute. One or more split ink applicators embrace the cona v l' ;g,:i 2 g L ductor from its opposite sides and support wicking lug/DIG g Q 7 supplied with ink from reservoir means. The wick f E holders are readily shiftahle from a first ink-applying position to a second non-operating position wherein [56] References Cited the conductor receives no ink from the wicking. C on ductor guides disposed to either end of the ink appli- UNITED STATES PAT ENTS cation station hold the conductor accurately aligned 977.466 12/1910 Mortimer 118/264 X with the applicators and a wiper may be utilized to re- 2,120,110 6/1938 Morrell v .1 113/234 X move CXCQSS ink 2.477.422 7/1949 Roseman ll8/234 X 2.987955 6/l96l Sassenberg 118/264 x 12 Claims. 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Ill CONDUCTOR CODING APPARATUS This application relates to means for applying coding ink to conductors, and more particularly to an improved simple apparatus utilizing no moving parts and operable to apply uniformly distributed coding ink to conductors at a high rate of speed.

Many proposals have been made heretofore for coding conductors either with ink embracing the entire.

conductor or with one or more stripes extending spirally about the conductor. However, prior equipment for utilizing either of these types of coding are subject to numerous shortcomings and disadvantages avoided by the present invention. Equipment previously proposed for applying a continuous encircling color employs rotary components such as a plurality of rollers or ink-applying rotary wicks or rollers for suppressing a portion of the wire beneath the surface of a reservoir of ink. Each type utilizes excessive quantities of ink requiring considerable space, long setting periods and objectionably slow operating speeds. Special problems are also encountered in handling both smaller and larger conductors. Furthermore, it is impractical to bend larger andstiffer sizes of conductors about rollers employed to submerge the conductor in ink.

Coding of conductors with spiral stripes requires complex precision equipment utilizing a vertically supported rotary head supporting a plurality of narrow rimmed ink-applying rollers between the rims of which the wire passes as the head rotates. This equipment is costly and requires considerable expertise and close supervision for its use. Furthermore, the equipment has a practical top operating speed of approximately 125 feet per minute, or a small fraction of that obtainable with this invention.

To avoid the aforementioned and other shortcomings of prior conductor coding techniques and equipment, there is provided by this invention a simple, low cost, foolproof conductor coding apparatus having no moving. parts. The apparatus is located between conductor supply and take-up spools to either side of the coding station. This station is equipped with one or more ink applicators each including a pair of wick holders portions of which are movable toward and away from one another for inspection and servicing. These holders are channel-shaped and support separate pieces of wicking ina manner to embrace the entire conductor as it is advanced therebetween. When the holders are moved apart the conductor is automatically shifted out of contact with all wicking and so held until the holders are reclosed. The conductor remains taut and centered through the ink applicators by guide means at either end of the coding station. Simple means is provided for opening the ink reservoir, affording access to the applicators, and to discontinue the fountain feed of ink.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide improved, simple, rugged, highly reliable, conductor coding apparatus for applying coding ink to a conductor as the conductor is advanced therepast.

Another object of-the invention is the provision of conductorcoding apparatus without moving parts and operable to apply a uniform film of ink to the conductor while moving through the apparatus at high speed and without need for bending the conductor or passing it over rollers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of conductor coding apparatus utilizing simple ink appli- 2 cator means supporting wicking firmly against the 0pposed sides of the conductor while the applicator means is in a first and coding position and being movable to a second position to hold the conductor out of contact with the wicking.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing an illustrative embodiment of the coding apparatus located between conductor supply and take-up spools and with the ink reservoir in lowered open position;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 22 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the reservoir in its upper, closed operating position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 4-4 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the ink applicators fully opened to facilitate servicing, inspection and replacement of the wicking; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale through the ink wiper.

Referring initially more particularly to FIG. I, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the conductor coding apparatus designated generally 10, mounted on a supporting pedestal 11 secured to the floor as by cap screws 12. The conductor 14 to be coded with a coloring ink is derived from a supply spool 15 suitably supported to the left of FIG. 1 and after passing horizon- I tally through the coding apparatus passes on to a suitably supported take-up rell l6 opposite the right hand end of, the apparatus. Take-up reel 16 is driven in known manner by a variable speed drive in accordance with conventional practice.

Apparatus 10 has an inverted L-shaped main body comprising a long horizontal leg 18 and a relatively narrow vertical leg 19 extending downwardly from themid-length of leg 18 closely beside pedestal 11. The lower end of leg 19 is secured by cap screws 20 (FIG. 2) to a clamping bracket 21 encircling pedestal 11 and adjustable lengthwise thereof by adjustment of its clamping bolt 22.

Secured to the opposite ends of main body leg 18 are a pair of conductor guide members 23, 23 having aligned openings through which conductor 14 passes.

Also secured to leg 18 near the right hand end as viewed in FIG. 1 is a suitable wiper 25 (FIG. 6) for removing excess ink from conductor 14. This wiper comprises a bracket 26 having a bore 27 for the conductor. A wiper disc 28 of elastomeric material is sized to snugly embrace the conductor and is held in position by a pressure ring 29 and a bushing 30 mounted in a threaded bore 31 of bracket 26. It will be understood that wiper disc 28 may also be made of felt or the like in which event pressure ring 29 can be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, there are a pair of ink coding applicators 35, 36 of similar construction. These applicators are supported on a bracket 38 extending substantially the full length of the horizontal leg 18 of the main body of the apparatus and secured thereto as by cap screws 39 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Bracket 38 is provided with a long slot 40 (FIG. 1) seating bolts 42 (FIGS. 1 and 2) employed to clamp applicators 35, 36 in any desired adjusted position along slot 40. As shown in FIG. 1, ap-

plicator 35 is near the left hand end of the apparatus whereas applicator 36 is slightly to the right of pedestal 11 thereby affording time for partial drying of the first coat of ink before the conductor passes through the second applicator as well as some further drying before the conductor passes through wiper 25. It will be understood that the spacings of the applicators from one another and from wiper 25 may vary widely depending upon operating conditions, the nature of the ink being used and other factors well known to persons skilled in the conductor coding art. f

Typical structural details of applicators '35, 36 will now be described with particular reference to FIG. 5. As there shown, the similar applicators comprise pairs of generally channel-shaped members 45, 46 hingedly interconnected at one end by a hinge pin 47. The similar channels 48, 49 extend vertically and face toward one another. Snugly seated in each channel is a separate block of suitable wicking 50. The density of the wicking is selected to readily conform to the surface of the conductor being coated when pressed thereagainst, the two pieces of wicking thereby cooperating to coat the entire surface of the conductor in the usual mode of use. The adjacent faces of wicking 50 will therefore be understood as normally in direct contact with one another and with the entire circumference of the conductor when the supporting members 45, 46 are in their normal closed operating position.

Conductor 14 is accommodated in semi-circular notches 51, 52 formed in the sidewalls of members 45, 45. The sidewalls of member 46 include extensions 53 spaced to embrace the exterior sidewalls of the channel-shaped member 45 as member 46 is pivoted upwardly to its closed position. Member 46 may be suitably held in closed position, such as by spring pressed ball detent 54 carried in the sidewall of member 45 and seating in a recess 55 (FIG. on the inner face of extension 53 of member 46.

It is desirable that conductor 14 be held out of contact with wicking 50, 50 during inspection and servicing operations, or while the conductor is not in movement through the apparatus. This is readily accomplished by providing the sidewall extensions 53, 53 of member 46 with shallow notches 56, 56 opening into notches 52, 52. Typically, notches 56 lie in the 9:00 position of member 46 when the latter is in its normal operating position as shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the clockwise opening movement of member 46 automatically shifts notches 56 toward the conductor as member 46 is pivoted clockwise toward its open position. Further opening movement of member 46 then acts to shift the conductor laterally away from the wicking 50 supported in member 45. Desirably, member 46 is also provided with deep slots 57 extending along extensions 53 and terminating in notches 52. It will also be understood that the notches 56 open through one edge of slots 57. Slots 57 permit the conductor to be more easily threaded through the applicators as well as to be removed and replaced should this become desirable while the conductor remains connected to the two spools 15, 16.

The means for supplying ink to wicking 50 will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. A long ink reservoir trough 60 extending substantially the full length of apparatus is supported on a shelf 61. Fixed to the rear edge of shelf 61 are a pair of parallel guide rails 62, 62 projecting upwardly along the rear edge of the mid-section thereof. Guide rails 62 4 have grooves lengthwise of their adjacent edges seating the opposite lateral edges of leg 19 of the main body of the apparatus. This permits reservoir 60 and its supporting shelf 61 to have limited vertical movement toward and away from the horizontal leg 18 ofthe main body of the coding apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, reservoir 60 is at its lower open position whereas in FIG. 3 it is fully elevated against the underside of the leg 18 which then serves as a closure cover for the reservoir.

The means for moving reservoir 60 between its open and closed positions comprises a lever 64 having its upper end pivoted at 65 to the underside of shelf 61. The mid-portion of lever 64 is provided with a cross pin 66 the opposite ends of which operate in slots 67 formed along the sides of the bifurcated horizontal member 68 fixed to bracket 21 by cap screws 69. It will be understood that when the outer lower end of lever 64 is pushed to the left as viewed in FIG. 3 until the lever is in a vertical position and cross pin 66 is at the left hand end of slot 67, reservoir 60 is firmly locked in its closed upper position. However, when lever 64 is pulled outwardly away from its vertical position with the cross pin 66 at the outer end of slots 67, reservoir 60 and supporting shelf 61 are lowered as guide rails 62 slide vertically downwardly along the opposite edges of leg 19 of the main body.

Suitable means for maintaining ink at a proper uniform level in reservoir 60 is here shown as comprising an inverted ink supply bottle 76 (FIG. 1) with its outlet seated in a clamping bushing mounted on the horizontal leg 18 of the main body. Bottle 76 is provided with a valve having a hollow stem 78 projecting downwardly into reservoir 60 (FIG. 1). If reservoir 60 is in its open position the valve at the upper end of stem 78 seats and cuts off the flow of ink. However, as tank 60 is being elevated to its upper closed position, the valve stem contacts the bottom of the tank and elevates the valve to restore the ink flow to a level controlled by an air inlet to bottle 76. Since fountain ink supply devices of this character are well known and form no part of the present invention, further description of this fountain feed is not necessary.

The operation of the coding apparatus will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of its components and their structural and functional relationship to one another. The apparatus is placed in operation by threading a conductor 14 to be coded through the components of the apparatus. The end of the conductor from supply spool 15 is threaded through the left hand guide eyelet 23 and then through applicators 35, 36 while their respective covers are in open position. The wire is moved laterally through the open end of slots 57 and seated in notches 56 of each of the applicator cover members 46. Thereafter, the conductor is threaded through wiper 25, through the right hand eyelet 23 and secured to the take-up spool or reel 16. These operations are of course performed while the reservoir is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Before elevating this reservoir to its closed position, members 46 of each of the applicators is pivoted and latched in its closed position so that the conductor is completely embraced by wicking 50 of each of the applicators 35, 36.

The automatic ink feed device is now in operating condition and the operator proceeds to drive the takeup reel 16 at an appropriate speed to move the taut conductor 14 horizontally through the apparatus at a speed of 300-600 or more feet per minute. All pieces portions of ink are removed by wiper disc 28. It will be understood that take-up spool 16 is located sufficiently distant from the exit end of the apparatus to permit proper drying and setting of the ink before coming in contact with previously coated portions of the conductor.

Whenever it becomes desirable to replace wicking 50 or to interrupt operation of the equipment for servicing or any other reason, the advance of the conductor is terminated. Lever 64 is pulled outwardly away from pedestal 11 thereby lowering the reservoir to its open position shown in FIG. 2. The upper ends of applicator members 46 are then unlatched and pivoted outwardly from their normal first or operating position to the second or non-operating position. During the initial opening movement of member 46, the wicking 50 in that member moves out of contact with conductor 14. Shortly thereafter the conductor engages in notches 56 following which further opening movement of members 46 causes these notches to pull the conductor away from the wicking 50 in applicator member 45.'lf the wicking has become worn this is readily evident to the eye and the worn wicking can be readily replaced -with fresh wicking without interference from conductor 14. Furthermore, since the conductor is free of contact with all wicking excess quantities of ink cannot collect on the conductor and take a set which is not only objectionable for obvious reasons but can result in injury to components of wiper 25 and to the aligning eyelet 23 when advance of the conductor is resumed.

After completion of the servicing operation, members 46 are pivoted upwardly to their operating positions and latched as by the seating of ball detent 54 in recess 55. Lever 64 is then restored to its vertical position to elevate the tank 60 and the apparatus is now in readiness for continued coding operation.

While the particular conductor coding apparatus herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. That improvement in apparatus for coding an electrical conductor with a permanent coding ink while being passed axially past said coding apparatus, said apparatus being of the type having a pair of spaced-apart axially-aligned conductor guide means for holding a length of the conductor straight and unbent while passing between said pair of conductor guide means, a coding ink supply reservoir adjacent said conductor guide means having its ink surface level below the area of ink application to a conductor undergoing coding, said improvement comprising: ink applicator means embracing the conductor undergoing coding in an area thereof intermediate said pair of conductor guide means, said ink applicator means including at least one pair of normally stationary rigid channel-shaped members facing toward one another from opposed sides ofa conductor each supporting ink-feeding wick means arranged to be supplied with ink from said ink supply reservoir, means supporting said channel-shaped holders for relative movement toward and away from one another between first and second positions, said wick means being in contact with the conductor and effective to apply ink thereto when said pair of holders is in said first position, and said pair of wick holders including means automatically effective to shift the conductor laterally out of contact with each of said wick means when said holders are moved away from said first position to said second position and for automatically returning the conductor into contact with said wick means when said holders are restored to said first position.

2. That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of ink wiper means on the downstream side of said ink applicator means, and means for shifting said ink applicator means axially of the conductor to different operating positions relative to said ink wiper means.

3. That improvementdefined in claim 1 characterized in that one of said wick holders is normally fixedly supported and the other is movable toward and away from said one holder and between said first and second positions thereof.

4. That improvement defined in claim 3 characterized in that said movable one of said pair of wick holders includes the means operable to shift the conductor to a position out of contact with said wick means so long as said holders are in the second position thereof.

5. That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in that said pair of channel-shaped members have the open sides thereof facing and in close juxtaposition to one another, and separate lengths of wick means mounted in each of said channel-shaped members.

6. That improvement defined in claim 5 characterized in that said channel-shaped members are hinged together adjacent one end thereof.

7. That improvement defined in claim 6 characterized in that the adjacent faces of said separate lengths of wicks are in contact with one another and with a respective half of the surface of the conductor therebetween when said holders are in said first position.

8. That improvement defined in claim 6 characterized in that one of said channel-shaped wick holders is wider than the other with the sidewalls thereof embracing the sidewalls of said other holder in the first position thereof.

9. That improvement defined in claim 8 characterized in that the sidewalls of said one channel-shaped member are provided with similar open-ended conductor receiving slots with the inner ends thereof spaced from and embracing the conductor in the first position of said wick holders.

10. That improvement defined in claim 9 characterized in that said shifting means comprises notches opening into one edge of said slots and positioned to seat and hold the conductor captively to one lateral side of the position occupied by the conductor when said wick holders are in the first position thereof.

11. That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of a plurality of said ink applicator means in spaced apart relation lengthwise of the conductor being coded with ink and mutually cooperating to apply coding ink to the surface of a conductor as the conductor is advanced therethrough.

12. That improvement defined in claim 11 characterized in the provision of means for shifting and clamping said plural ink applicator means in different spaced apart positions lengthwise of a conductor undergoing coding. 

1. That improvement in apparatus for coding an electrical conductor with a permanent coding ink while being passed axially past said coding apparatus, said apparatus being of the type having a pair of spaced-apart axially-aligned conductor guide means for holding a length of the conductor straight and unbent while passing between said pair of conductor guide means, a coding ink supply reservoir adjacent said conductor guide means having its ink surface level below the area of ink application to a conductor undergoing coding, said improvement comprising: ink applicator means embracing the conductor undergoing coding in an area thereof intermediate said pair of conductor guide means, said ink applicator means including at least one pair of normally stationary rigid channel-shaped members facing toward one another from opposed sides of a conductor each supporting ink-feeding wick means arranged to be supplied with ink from said ink supply reservoir, means supporting said channel-shaped holders for relative movement toward and away from one another between first and second positions, said wick means being in contact with the conductor and effective to apply ink thereto when said pair of holders is in said first position, and said pair of wick holders including means automatically effective to shift the conductor laterally out of contact with each of said wick means when said holders are moved away from said first position to said second position and for automatically returning the conductor into contact with said wick means when said holders are restored to said first position.
 2. That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of ink wiper means on the downstream side of said ink applicator means, and means for shifting said ink applicator means axially of the conductor to different operating positions relative to said ink wiper means.
 3. That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in that one of said wick holders is normally fixedly supported and the other is movable toward and away from said one holder and between said first and second positions thereof.
 4. That improvement defined in claim 3 characterized in that said movable one of saId pair of wick holders includes the means operable to shift the conductor to a position out of contact with said wick means so long as said holders are in the second position thereof.
 5. That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in that said pair of channel-shaped members have the open sides thereof facing and in close juxtaposition to one another, and separate lengths of wick means mounted in each of said channel-shaped members.
 6. That improvement defined in claim 5 characterized in that said channel-shaped members are hinged together adjacent one end thereof.
 7. That improvement defined in claim 6 characterized in that the adjacent faces of said separate lengths of wicks are in contact with one another and with a respective half of the surface of the conductor therebetween when said holders are in said first position.
 8. That improvement defined in claim 6 characterized in that one of said channel-shaped wick holders is wider than the other with the sidewalls thereof embracing the sidewalls of said other holder in the first position thereof.
 9. That improvement defined in claim 8 characterized in that the sidewalls of said one channel-shaped member are provided with similar open-ended conductor receiving slots with the inner ends thereof spaced from and embracing the conductor in the first position of said wick holders.
 10. That improvement defined in claim 9 characterized in that said shifting means comprises notches opening into one edge of said slots and positioned to seat and hold the conductor captively to one lateral side of the position occupied by the conductor when said wick holders are in the first position thereof.
 11. That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of a plurality of said ink applicator means in spaced apart relation lengthwise of the conductor being coded with ink and mutually cooperating to apply coding ink to the surface of a conductor as the conductor is advanced therethrough.
 12. That improvement defined in claim 11 characterized in the provision of means for shifting and clamping said plural ink applicator means in different spaced apart positions lengthwise of a conductor undergoing coding. 